Academic biography

Assistant Professor of Music Education in the School of Arts Education and Movement, Institute of Education (DCU), Marie-Louise combines a life of teaching, performing and research. With a diverse range of teaching experiences from early childhood, secondary school to adult education, she is a passionate advocate of the transformative effects of public schooling and arts education.

As a Fulbright scholar (2010-2014), she earned her Doctoral Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, NYC, where she worked as Assistant to the Program Coordinator, Student Teacher Advisor and Viola/Violin Teacher. Her dissertation titled Post-Primary Music Education in Ireland: Principals’ Perspectives investigated the extent to which music was implemented in second-level (secondary) schools across Ireland. Making regular presentations at international conferences, Marie-Louise's research interests incorporate early childhood and adolescent experiences in music to policy, leadership in the arts and music teacher education/initial teacher education.

Previously, she worked as a post-primary Music and Irish teacher at Belvedere College, Dublin, where she established various initiatives including a wind band and orchestral programme. As a lecturer and supervisor at Maynooth University, Marie-Louise taught and supervised pre-service secondary school music teachers on the Professional Masters in Education programme. As a teaching fellow at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin, she was the Coordinator of Curriculum Music, teaching and supervising pre-service primary school teachers. Furthermore, she established and directed a successful Music Academy, focusing on group and individual instrumental tuition.

Marie-Louise maintains a busy schedule as a viola player, regularly performing with RTÉ's Concert Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra, in addition to diverse performing ensembles. She has shared the stage with artists such as Pavarotti, José Carreras, “Puff Daddy,” Enrique Iglesias, Cliff Richard, The Corrs (MTV awards), Westlife, Eimear Quinn (Eurovision winner) and Josh Groban to name but a few. Furthermore, she is a traditional Irish fiddler and piano accompanist.

Marie-Louise is the Membership Secretary of the Society for Music Education in Ireland and is a Commissioner for the International Society for Music Education (Music in Schools and Teacher Education, MISTEC).

Dr. Bowe welcomes enquiry into doctoral study, firstly in the areas of post-primary music education & policy  and more broadly, in regards to the following wider teaching and research interests: music education, arts education, leadership in the arts and initial teacher education.